Taking care of yourself is a necessary lifetime expense that you cannot afford to ignore. Make sure your medical costs are taken care of with reliable health insurance. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, requires that every American resident have health insurance, or he or she must pay a penalty. The ACA is also known as Obamacare and includes four significant new provisions that affect consumers:

Insurance plans are grouped into four tiers — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — that determine pricing and degree of coverage.

Insurers must provide health care plan information – including the tier, deductibles and coverage rules – to all consumers to help them comparison shop.

Insurers are not allowed to deny coverage or set premium prices based on gender or pre-existing conditions.

Young adults are allowed to stay on their parents’ health plans until age 26.

Despite the changes effected by ACA national legislation, health care costs remain high. To choose the health care insurance plan that is right for both your medical and financial circumstances, it’s important to understand all your options.